Chapter 65: Seriously Injured
After casting the Tree Binding Death (Magen: Jubaku Satsu), Genichi had no time to pay attention to the battle on his master Sakumo's side. The Cloud ninja from the left and rear flanks were also charging in.
So, he immediately cast the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique (Genjutsu: Kokuangyō no Jutsu) again, this time targeting the six Cloud ninja on the left. This was because the three Root ninja had already charged out to engage them.
At the same time, Namiichi turned to face the rear and used the Great Fireball Technique (Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu) to block the line of sight of the Cloud ninja there.
As for the right flank, for the Cloud ninja who were crossing the river, a torrent of water roared, surging up to surround the four of them.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall (Suiton: Suijinheki)!
It was not cast by Genichi, but by the water clone hidden in the water. The inverted, bell-shaped water wall became a containment ninjutsu. Although the four Cloud ninja broke out after just over a second, they were met with a heaven-and-earth-covering tidal wave.
The Cloud ninja on the right were temporarily held off by the water clone.
Genichi turned his attention to the rear. Namiichi was fighting four Cloud ninja alone and was completely on the defensive.
Genichi formed a seal.
Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique (Genjutsu: Kokuangyō no Jutsu).
But this time, he targeted only a single Cloud ninja, greatly increasing its precision.
"Watch out for genjutsu, damn it!" The Cloud ninja whose vision had been stolen immediately leaped backward, disengaging from his fight with Namiichi. While in the air, he quickly sheathed his sword and then formed seals, attempting to break the genjutsu, but he failed.
He landed on the ground, and then he found his body was bound.
Spurt!
Blood splattered. The Cloud ninja, bound by the Tree Binding Death (Magen: Jubaku Satsu), stared with wide eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but a large amount of blood gushed out. A kunai had pierced directly through his throat.
After casting two genjutsu in a row, Genichi didn't have time to continue supporting Namiichi. Two Cloud ninja from the left had broken through the Root ninjas' blockade and were coming straight for him. Before they had even arrived, shuriken and a brilliant flash of lightning were already whistling towards him.
Genichi clapped his hands together. With a boom, the surrounding river water surged upwards, blocking both the lightning and the shuriken. He then waved his hands, and the surging water swept towards the two incoming Cloud ninja.
One of the two threw a kunai with an explosive tag attached. With a roar and a cloud of steam, he forcefully intercepted the surging water. The other Cloud ninja leaped high into the air, then whistled down, tearing through the rising steam, and charged straight at Genichi with his sword.
Splash!
The river's surface exploded. Genichi leaped up, drawing his long sword with his left hand.
Clang!
The two clashed in mid-air. Amidst a shower of sparks, Genichi drew the short sword from the back of his waist with his right hand and swept it across the Cloud ninja's abdomen.
Blood splattered.
The Cloud ninja endured the sharp pain and used the force of his blade to leap backward.
Genichi landed on the surface of the river and swung his blade, tangling with the other Cloud ninja. The one with the wounded abdomen gritted his teeth, took out a bandage to tie around his wound, and then rushed back to attack Genichi.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Genichi fought one against two, and the three of them became a tangled mess.
After more than a dozen exchanges, the Cloud ninja with the wounded abdomen had his left arm chopped off, but immediately after, Genichi was also slashed across the face by the other Cloud ninja, and blood flew.
Poof!
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Just as Genichi's body exploded into a puff of smoke, high-pressure water jets shot out from beneath the river's surface.
"A shadow clone!"
The Cloud ninja's expression changed. He quickly leaped back, but after dodging the first two high-pressure water jets, he was pierced through the chest by the third.
The real Genichi climbed out of the river. The Cloud ninja with the wounded abdomen found that he could no longer move.
"A gen... genjutsu! Damn it!" the Cloud ninja gritted his teeth and struggled. He then saw the Genichi on the surface of the water dissolve into countless droplets and fall back into the river.
The next moment, a cold sensation appeared at his neck.
Spurt!
Emerging from the tree that had bound the Cloud ninja, Genichi decisively slit his enemy's throat.
At this time, Namiichi retreated to Genichi's side. He was also injured now. He had taken a slash to his left eye and was now blind in it. But opposite them, of the Cloud ninja who had originally circled around to attack from the rear, only two remained.
At the same time, Genichi's water clone on the other side had also been defeated. Of the four Cloud ninja there, three remained.
"Are you still okay?" Genichi asked, sheathing his sword.
Namiichi's stern face now looked somewhat ferocious. "I'm fine!"
"Good. Charge forward, let's break through!" Genichi formed a hand seal.
Namiichi sheathed his sword and formed a seal.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique (Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu)!
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough (Fūton: Daitoppa)!
Boom!
A sea of flames rolled towards the two Cloud ninja charging them from the front.
After completing his wind jutsu, Genichi continued to form seals. To his left, the river water immediately surged up, forming a defense that blocked the lightning jutsu and shuriken from the three Cloud ninja attacking from the river.
And Namiichi, after casting his fire jutsu, had already drawn his sword and was charging out, following closely behind the sweeping sea of fire.
After completing his water jutsu, Genichi also ignored the three Cloud ninja to his left and followed behind Namiichi.
Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique (Genjutsu: Kokuangyō no Jutsu)!
Genichi appeared from behind Namiichi, and the two Cloud ninja were instantly plunged into absolute darkness.
However, he didn't have time to cast another ninjutsu. He drew his sword, spun around, and with a series of clangs, blocked all the shuriken that came flying from behind.
Lightning Release: Thunder Light Pillar (Raiton: Raikōchū)!
Genichi's vision was suddenly filled with a brilliant white light. He had been hit.
One Cloud ninja threw shuriken, another cast the Thunder Light Pillar genjutsu to interfere, and the third leaped high into the air, then descended, his ninja blade chopping down at the now-blinded Genichi.
Splash!
Water splashed everywhere. The Cloud ninja's descending blade was blocked by a stream of water.
"Die!" the Cloud ninja roared. His body was covered in arcs of electricity, which then wrapped around his ninja blade. He then cut through the rotating water and stabbed towards the Genichi inside. The lightning on his blade grew more and more intense, as if it were about to erupt outwards at any moment.
"You're the one who's looking for death!" a cold voice sounded in the Cloud ninja's ear. He looked up and met a pair of crimson eyes. He then froze on the spot.
"Damn it, a Sharingan genjutsu..." this Cloud Jonin froze in place.
Sploosh!
The water dispersed. Genichi and Namiichi both leaped backward at the same time, dodging the attacks of the other two charging Cloud ninja.
Pant~
Pant~
Genichi listened to the heavy breathing of Namiichi beside him. He knew that his comrade's chakra was severely depleted, and his stamina was all but gone.
Fortunately, they now only had three enemies left to face. As for the battle on Sakumo's and the Root's side, they didn't need to worry about it.
"Namiichi, you go first!" Genichi handed his backpack to Namiichi. It contained a first-aid kit.
"Alright!" Namiichi nodded, took the backpack, and then turned and left. He did not insist on staying. He had very little stamina left. Staying would only make him a burden. It was better to retreat first, treat his wound, and take the opportunity to recover his stamina. He could then provide support for the later retreat of Genichi and Sakumo.
"Don't give him another chance to use genjutsu!" the Cloud Jonin, who had been freed from the genjutsu by his comrade, shouted. He then launched an attack. Shuriken went first, to interfere with Genichi's hand seals.
(End of Chapter)
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